House approves Crenshaw measure to aid Nepal

A trade initiative from U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) to support the long-term economic recovery of Nepal following an earthquake earlier this year was included in the House-passed conference report on the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.

The act, H.R. 644, passed the house on Friday and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

“Nepal suffered enormous devastation in April’s earthquake, and there is no dispute that the country needs long-term assistance to move its recovery forward,” Crenshaw said. “Lifting the tariffs for specific exports such as carpets, headgear, shawls, scarves, travel gear, and handmade textiles will allow a longer time horizon for recovery and growth. Moreover, the measure provides tariff relief for U.S. importers and favorable conditions for investors. This modest and common-sense strategy will help everyone in the long-run.”

April’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal killed approximately 10,000 people and caused approximately $7 billion in economic losses.

Crenshaw’s trade provision for non-sensitive imports from Nepal, drafted in conjunction with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, calls for the duty-free importation of certain textile and apparel items from Nepal through 2025. It also calls on Customs and Border Patrol to verify on a quarterly basis that covered imports from Nepal are not being unlawfully transshipped to the U.S. from third countries.

A trade facilitation and capacity building program would also be established under the program as a means of aiding Nepal in exporting regionally to Southeast Asia and the U.S.